Peter Ware Higgs was a Nobel Prize-winning British theoretical physicist, widely known for discovering the Higgs boson in 2012. Peter Higgs passed away on 8 April 2024 but left a great scientific legacy behind. This article will cover Physicist Peter Higgs Biography: Death, Interview, God Particle, Education, Book, Awards, Quotes & Net Worth.
| Basic Biography/Wiki | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Peter Ware Higgs |
| Born / Date of birth | 29 May 1929 |
| Date of Death | 8 April 2024 |
| Age (at the time of Death) | 94 |
| Cause of Death | Short illness |
| Place of Death | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession or Career field | Theoretical physicist |
| Famous for | His prediction of the Higgs boson |
Early life: Parents, Siblings
| Birthplace | Elswick district of Newcastle upon Tyne, England |
| Nickname or Popular Name | Peter Higgs |
| Father Name | Thomas Ware Higgs |
| Mother Name | Gertrude Maude née Coghill |
| Brother Name | – |
| Sister Name | – |
| Zodiac sign or Sun Sign | Gemini |
| Hometown | Newcastle upon Tyne, England |
| Last Residence / Address | – |
| Mother tongue / Language | English |
| Religion | Atheism |
| Food Habits and Choices | – |
| Hobbies and interests | – |
Physical Appearance: Height, Weight & Measurements
| Physical stats & more | Values |
| Height (approx) | in centimetres – 172 cm in feet and inches – 5.64 feet in metres – 1.72 m |
| Hair colour | White |
| Eye colour | Brown |
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Peter Higgs Education Background: Qualifications
| School | – Cotham Grammar School, Bristol (1941 – 1946) – City of London School |
| College/University | King’s College London |
| Educational Qualification/Degree | – Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Physics (1950) – Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree (1952) – Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree (1954) |
Peter Higgs has also received several honorary degrees from many institutions. These degrees are as follows:
| Year | Degree | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Doctor of Science (ScD) | Trinity College Dublin |
| 2015 | Doctor of Science (DSc) | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| 2015 | Doctor of Science (DSc) | Queen’s University Belfast |
| 2014 | Doctor of Science (DSc) | The Free University of Brussels (ULB) |
| 2014 | Doctor of Science (DSc) | The University of St Andrews |
| 2013 | Doctor of Science (DSc) | The University of Durham |
| 2013 | Doctor of Science (DSc) | The University of Manchester |
| 2013 | Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) | SISSA, Trieste |
| 2012 | Doctor of Science (DSc) | Heriot-Watt University |
| 2012 | Doctor of Science (ScD) | The University of Cambridge |
| 2010 | Doctor of Science (DSc) | University College London |
| 2009 | Doctor of Science (DSc) | King’s College London |
| 2008 | Doctor of Science (DSc) | Swansea University |
| 2002 | Doctor of Science (DSc) | The University of Glasgow |
| 1998 | Doctor of Science (DSc) | The University of Edinburgh |
| 1997 | Doctor of Science (DSc) | The University of Bristol |
Personal life: Peter Higgs Wife, Family, Marriage
| Marital status | Divorced |
| Spouse (Wife) | Jody Williamson (m. 1963; div. 1972) |
| Past Relationship, affair (boyfriend or girlfriend) | Jody Williamson (Past wife) |
| Number of Children | 2 (Two sons) |
| Sons | Christopher (computer scientist), Jonny (jazz musician) |
Physicist Peter Higgs Death
At age 94, Peter Higgs died on 8 April 2024 in Edinburgh, Scotland. The cause of his death was a short illness that took his life in his home in Edinburgh.
Professional Career
| Years Active | 1954 – 2024 |
Peter Higgs Book
Writer Frank Close wrote the book about Peter Higgs and his discovery in his book Elusive: How Peter Higgs Solved the Mystery of Mass.
4 July 2012 was the day when it was announced that one of the longest-running physics mysteries had been solved. It was the Higgs boson. Furthermore, it examined the reasons as to why particles have mass. Higgs boson is named after Peter Higgs. The author wrote this book from his years of conversations with Peter Higgs and other experts in the field of physics.
Political or Social work
| Company or Institution for Social Causes | – |
| Political Party affiliation or leaning | – |
Lifestyle: Peter Higgs Net Worth, Status, Money
Peter Higgs’ Net Worth is not mentioned on any official source or credible new portal. So it’s hard to guess his exact net worth.
| Net Worth (approx) | Unknown |
House, Bike, and Car Collection
| House or other properties | A house in Edinburgh, Scotland |
Awards, Nominations, and Honour
| Year / Date | Award | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 8 October 2013 | Nobel Prize in Physics | The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden |
| 2011 | Edinburgh Award | City of Edinburgh Council |
| 24 February 2012 | Awarded “loving cup” | The Rt Hon George Grubb, Lord Provost of Edinburgh |
| July 2013 | Freedom of the City | Bristol City |
| April 2014 | Freedom of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne | City of Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 2012 | Membership of the Order of the Companions of Honour | British Government |
- A brass plaque was installed on the Newcastle Quayside in his honour. It was installed as part of the Newcastle Gateshead Initiative Local Heroes Walk of Fame.
- Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics: Edinburgh University announced a new centre named after Professor Peter Higgs on 6 July 2012 to advance the research in theoretical physics. It was given the name of The Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics. Its purpose was to bring together scientists from all over the world and to seek a “deeper understanding of the workings of the universe”. Currently, this centre can be found within the James Clerk Maxwell Building. It is the home of the University’s School of Physics and Astronomy and the iGEM 2015 team (ClassAfiED).
- Edinburgh University has also established a chair of theoretical physics in Peter’s name.
Likes, Preferences, and Favourites
| Food | – |
| Movies | – |
| Subjects | Physics |
| Book | – |
| Music and Songs | – |
| Sports | – |
Less-known facts about Peter Higgs
- Peter Higgs didn’t know he had won a Nobel Prize until his former neighbour congratulated him on the street.
- Higgs did not own a mobile phone at all.
Social media accounts
| Facebook page | n/a |
| X (formerly Twitter) profile | n/a |
| Instagram page | n/a |
| n/a |
FAQs
Who founded the God particle?
Peter Higgs is a physicist known for predicting the Higgs boson. He is the one who discovered the existence of “God particle”.
Was Peter Higgs Religious?
No, Peter Higgs was not religious at all. He explained it once that he was an atheist.
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